USC v Columbia University

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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As it says, I have been accepted into USC Verbiti school of engineering and Columbia Seas with Davis scholar program (wanting to study mechanical engineering and CS). I have already ruled out UMichigan, Santa Clara, Rice and other schools. I really can not decide between the two and family has not been to helpful (they are bias as my sister and cousin goes to Columbia and my parents seriously dislike USC). I know at both schools the people are nice and welcoming and I know they rank about the same with dorms and food. I would like to work on a startup and if that fails go to work for a company for a few years and maybe go MBA.

USC:
The reasons why I applied to USC is bc I have dreamed of going to California for a long time: the beaches, girls, party scene, Silicon Valley, start ups and the alumni network. I don’t love love football but team spirit is somewhat important and I wouldn’t miss the Trojan games. I am more extroverted towards strangers and I really want to work on meeting new people and networking during college and I feel like that will be very easy at USC. Plus I feel like work load and overall stress would be better managed here (I’m not the most academic person)

Columbia:
I never really considered going here until I got in (i guess because I thought I’d never get accepted) I know they have a very good entrepreneurial program and as a scholar I have the opportunity to get funding for start ups and summer programs. They have surfing over in queens and snowboarding a bit out of town so that’s a plus too that I can get a bit of a beach setting without going to California. I don’t like the noises, smells and crowd that comes with New York but do enjoy going out to bars, eating at new places and shopping. But that’s in La too…

Final thoughts:
I think LA would obviously be more fun but Columbia has more prestige that is toped with an elite program (Davis) at an elite ivy University. It comes down to eduction or beach and California weather. Please add any thoughts or ideas that you have towards either argument.

Prices:
People will always bring this up. Money and financial aid is not currently an issue. My parents have worked on building a college fund ever since they got married and Fafsa saw that ig and decided not to give any money. More to the Less prepared or those who need it ig.

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A couple of points:

Silicon valley is quite a distance away from LA. You’d have to get on a plane and fly. Its not something you can easily get to from USC. LA is obviously closer to the bay area than NY, but realistically the distance is meaningless. There are probably more startups in the NYC area as compared to LA.

The rah-rah spirit will definitely be better at USC. The campus is also a lot larger than Columbia, and I’ve heard that the administration is quite responsive.

Getting into a good MBA program will require you to do well in your undergraduate studies, and then also have good work experience. Of the two schools, which has better job opportunities for graduating engineers?